Sporting Khalsa vs Walsall Wood

JW Hunt Cup First Round

Sporting Khalsa

Win

Walsall Wood

Loss

Recap

Two goals of real quality by Brad Lawley and Marvin Nisbett secured a first round victory in the JW Hunt Cup for Khalsa after a pulsating derby with Walsall Wood.

With Wood returning to Khalsa on Saturday in the league, it was always likely to be a cagey affair, and so it proved.

But it was Wood who definitely had the better of the chances in the first half with Danny Griffiths almost opening the scoring with a clever chip on four minutes and then Lewis Taylor-Boyce having a good call for handball turned down to the dismay of the Wood players and management.

Drew Aiton came closest to earning a lead for Wood on the half hour, his shot from range flashing just wide of Charlie Price‘s goal.

It was Khalsa who went in ahead, Lawley controlling the ball brilliantly on the corner of the area, turning and firing into the far corner.

The home side – unbeaten in nine league games – gained more of the play in the second half, Matt Martin‘s 55th minute effort after Wood keeper Lee Evans’ clearance as he rushed out of his area was only half successful bounded wide from 45 yards.

And then on 59 minutes the game was wrapped up, skipper Nicky Campbell threading a great pass to Nisbett who fired past Evans from the angle.

The impressive Ben Birch headed just over in the 84th minute from a set piece, but Khalsa were able to hang on, setting up an intriguing return on Saturday.